| Scolopendra polymorpha | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Scolopendromorpha |
| Family: | Scolopendridae |
| Genus: | Scolopendra |
| Species: | S. polymorpha |
| Binomial name | |
| Scolopendra polymorpha Wood, 1861 | |
Scolopendra polymorpha, the common desert centipede, tiger centipede, banded desert centipede, [1] [2] or Sonoran Desert centipede is a centipede species found in western North America.
Their bodies generally reach 4–7 in (10–18 cm) in length. Coloration is variable, hence the species name polymorpha which means "many forms", and alternative common names like "multicolored centipede". The body segments have one dark lateral stripe, so they are also known as the tiger centipede or tiger-striped centipede. Generally, this species has a darker brown-, red-, or orange-colored head and lighter brown, tan, or orange body segments with yellow legs. However, some populations, such as those in Southern California, may be entirely light blue with indigo stripes, with turquoise legs. Its antennae have seven or more smooth segments.
S. polymorpha is indigenous to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, north to the Pacific coast. [3] [4] It inhabits dry grasslands, forest, and desert; in these habitats, the centipedes generally take up residence under rocks, though they have been observed creating burrows in suitable environments and inside rotting logs.
The venom of Scolopendra polymorpha has been found to be medically relevant, as studies have shown an antimicrobial activity of the SPC13 peptide isolated from its venom. [5] After purification by electroelution, this peptide exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , two bacteria that are the leading causes of nosocomial infections. Additionally, SPC13 presented with bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli , which can cause food poisoning, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. [5] [6]
Observed in the muscle of mice, the venom of S. polymorpha is able to cause muscle damage, including necrosis (cell/tissue death), loss of fascicular structure, and ragged red fibers, a type of diseased mitochondrial accumulation. [7] In addition to myotoxic effects, NADH and COX tests provide an indication that respiratory complexes within the target prey may also be affected.
Scolopendra polymorpha is not able to completely regenerate its venom within the first 48 hours, limiting its defense activity. After a complete milking procedure, 65-86% of venom volume and 29-47% of protein mass was regenerated during this time. [8] However, there was shown to be no additional regeneration past the initial two days, and both volume and protein levels did not match initial levels after 7 months of observation. The body length of this centipede is also negatively correlated with the rate of venom regeneration, making size a limiting factor in its regenerative abilities. [8]
Scolopendra polymorpha is indigenous to the deserts of western North America; in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the United States, and in Sonora and Chihuahua in northern Mexico. They primarily seek shelter during the day in moist, cool areas such as under desert rocks. [9] Due to their desert habitat, they remain to be one of the most xeric members of Chilopoda. However, due to incomplete adaptation to this extreme environment, Scolopendra polymorpha are most active at night during the cool winter months or occasionally during the summer New Mexico Monsoon, when temperatures are lower and moisture is higher, and remain burrowed underground throughout the rest of the year. [9]
Media related to Scolopendra polymorpha at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Scolopendra polymorpha at Wikispecies
Centipedes are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda, an arthropod group which includes millipedes and other multi-legged animals. Centipedes are elongated segmented (metameric) creatures with one pair of legs per body segment. All centipedes are venomous and can inflict painful bites, injecting their venom through pincer-like appendages known as forcipules. Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs, ranging from 30 to 382. Centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs; no centipede has exactly 100. Like spiders and scorpions, centipedes are predominantly carnivorous.
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Scolopendra heros, commonly known as the giant desert centipede, giant Sonoran centipede, Texas redheaded centipede, and giant redheaded centipede, is a species of North American centipede found in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.
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Scolopendra subspinipes is a species of very large centipede found throughout southeastern Asia. One of the most widespread and common species in the genus Scolopendra, it is also found on virtually all land areas around and within the Indian Ocean, all of tropical and subtropical Asia from Russia to the islands of Malaysia and Indonesia, Australia, South and Central America, the Caribbean islands, and possibly parts of the southern United States, but how much of this range is natural and how much due to human introduction is unclear. With a wide geographic range and numerous color variations, the species is known by many common names, including jungle centipede, orange-legged centipede, Hawaiian centipede, and Vietnamese centipede.
Scolopendra is a species-rich genus of large tropical centipedes of the family Scolopendridae.
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Atractaspis engaddensis, also known as "שרף עין גדי" or "الأسود الخبيث" is a venomous snake found in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. The specific epithet references the type locality, Ein Gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea.
Scolopendra morsitans, also known as the Tanzanian blue ringleg or red-headed centipede, is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae. S. morsitans is the type species for the genus Scolopendra.
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Scolopendra viridicornis is a species of centipede in the family Scolopendridae which can be found within the Amazon rainforest, the type locality being in Brazil. Due to the geographic distribution of this species it is known as the Amazonian giant centipede.
RhTx is a small peptide toxin from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, also called the Chinese red-headed centipede. RhTx binds to the outer pore region of the temperature regulated TRPV1 ion channel, preferably in activated state, causing a downwards shift in the activation threshold temperature, which leads to the immediate onset of heat pain.
Spooky toxin (SsTx) is a small peptide neurotoxin. It is found in the venom of Chinese red-headed centipedes, also known as golden head centipedes. It is originally composed of 76 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 6017.5 Daltons, but loses the first 23 residues and becomes 53 residues long. SsTx is currently thought to be unique to Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.
Leiurus abdullahbayrami is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Its venom is highly toxic to humans, but can be used in medical development.
Notexin is a toxin produced by the tiger snake (Notechis scutatus). It is a myotoxic and presynaptic, neurotoxic phospholipase A2 (PLA2s). These are enzymes that hydrolyze the bond between a fatty acid tail and glycerol in fatty acids on the 2-position.
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The centipedes or Chilopoda are divided into the following orders.